Vice Adm. Skinner is currently serving as the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition).  He assumed his duties August 9, 2010.

Skinner was born in Houston, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1977.

As a flag officer, he was the program executive officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs and commanded Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, and served as assistant commander, Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command. 

Skinner held both operational and shore commands to include commanding officer Patrol Squadron FORTY SEVEN; chief Test Pilot and commanding officer of Naval Force Aircraft Test Squadron, and program manager for a Chief of Naval Operations Special Project.

Skinner is a graduate of the Navy Test Pilot School and served in Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate, where he was recognized as Directorate Test Pilot of the Year in 1986.  Additionally, he received a degree in Financial Management from the Naval Post Graduate School, where he graduated as a Conrad Scholar and was awarded the Department of the Navy award for excellence in financial management, and the Rear Admiral Thomas R McClellan award for excellence in administrative sciences. 

His awards include Legion of Merit (3 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and other unit deployment citations and ribbons.